Fountain pen



- Jain 6,-'1931 G. HENRY 1,787,747 Y FOUNTAIN PEN Filed-Dec. 17, 1928 I aigylNVENmRl i 07 v lg ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 6, 1931 GEORGE nanny, or srjnencamroanm'- 4 FOUNTAIN r-EN Application filed December 17, 1928. SerialNo. 326,570.

My present invention relates to a fountain pen im rovcment and more particularly to means or starting the flow of ink.

An object of my invention is to provide a 5 device suitable for use with fountain pens which is adapted to clean and start the flow of ink of a fountain pen in a clean and convenient manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide in combination with a fountain pen,

means for cleaning the nib and starting the,

flow of ink without necessitating a shaking of the pen.

A further object of my invention is to provide in combination with a device of the above character, means which will act to compress the nib of the pen and the ink feeding device together and thus start the ink flowing.

The one serious objection to the use of an fountain pens is the fact that where the pen is used infrequently, the ink very often dries upon the nib and thus interferes with the free flow of the ink when the pen is first picked up. A common practice under these conditions is to give the pen a violent shake so as to discharge ink out of the ink feeding device and upon the nib. This procedure is not only wasteful of the ink, but it also throws the ink about where it may cause damage to surrounding objects.

In order to overcome the above objections, I propose to provide a means which, when the nib of the pen is pushed thereinto, will clean the nib and start the flow of ink in a :5 novel manner.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a perspective view of my in- 43 vention embodied in a desk weight showing a fragmentary portion of the pen adjacent thereto,

Figure 2 is a sectional view in elevation showing the manner of mounting the pen 4!! starting element shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of my invention, partially in section, and applied to the cap of a fountain pen.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, 10

designates a block of material which may be of any suitable substance, the only consideration being here that it possess some weight so thatthe complete device may then be used as a paper weight or the like. The member 10 is provided. with a cylindrical opening 11 in the center. thereof anda flared portion 12 at the upper end thereof. Mounted within the opening- 11' I provide a plurality of vertically extending bristles 13 which are secured together at their ends by glue or other suitable means 14. Intermediate the ends of the bristles 13 I provide a resilient band 15 which acts to compress the bristles at substantially their central point. This member 15, owing to its resiliency, will, when a pen is forced into the bristles 13, yield and as a result create a corresponding pressure upon the nib and ink feeding member of the en so as to squeeze them' together and force ink out upon the nib. 7 v

In Figure 3 of the drawing Ishowmy im-. proved ink starter mounted upon the outer end of a fountain pen cap 16. The bristles 13 in, this instance are mounted within a receptacle 1.7 in" a manner similar 'to that previously described, The member. 17 is mounted within the end of the cap so as to slide freely therein. Ai spring 18 is arranged within the cap 16 and acts against the member 17 to hold it in its outermost position and out of engagement with the nib of the pen which I here designate by the numeral 19. The arrangement and construction here shown islimmaterial, the essential features being that the bristles13 be located away from the nib and capable of being pressed thereover when desired. The nib 19 is shown as mounted upon a pen body 20 and having the usual ink feeding member, 21 ad'- jacent thereto. v

The operation of my invention is as follows, assuming that it is desired to start the ink flowing in the pen 20. If the operator has a device such as isshown in Figure 1, he will merely project the nib of the pen into the bristles 13 and' press downwardly thereupon; This will'force the nib and its cooperating ink feeding member into the zone of the elastic member 15 and,as aresult, the nib and ink feeding member will be pressed together and ink forced out upon the nib. means for returning said member and pen- During this action, in addition to the above, wiping means to aretracted position after dethe nib will also be cleaned. pression whereby they will be separated from When my device is incorporated in a foun-' said nib. tain pen cap as is illustrated in Fi re 3, the GEORGE HENRY.

operator will merely by placing is thumb upon the member 1 force it inwardl and over the nib 19 before the cap is remove from the pen. This will press the nib and ink feed- 'ing device together as previously described and start the ink flowing;a a

The bristles 13 may made up in independent units with the band 15 aflixed thereto so that when the bristles become soiled, 15 dirty, and worn from use the whole may be Y removed bodily-from its receptacle and quick- V ly and easily replaced with a new and clean set of bristles.

While I have shown the preferred form 20 of my invention as now known to me, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction without de arting from the s irit of the invention as de ed in the appen ed claims. 25 Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isv 1. A fountain pen ink starter comprising a plurality of bristles arranged and secured 30 together at one end, and an elastic means about said bristles intermediate their ends tending to yieldingly press them tightl toether, whereby when the pen nib and ink eeder are pushed therein pressure will be 35 exerted upon the nib and ink feeding member and ink. forced out upon the nib.

2. A fountain pen starter com risin a receptacle, bristles arranged side by si e and secured at one end into said receptacle, and I 4 an elastic band about said bristles intermediate theirv ends for exerting pressure throu h said bristles upon the pen nib and ink fee er when pushed therein. I k

3. In a fountain pen cap, the combination a p 45 of a relatively movable receptacle in the end V of said cap, bristles arranged withinsaid receptacle, and means whereby said receptacle and bristles may be forced inwardly in said cap and over the nib enclosed by said cap, said V I 59 means normally operatin to hold said v bristles out of contact with t e nib.

4. In a fountain pen cap, the combinationof a relatively movable receptacle in the end of said cap, bristles arranged within said re- 55 ceptacle, means whereby said receptacle and V bristles may be forced inwardly in said cap and over the nib enclosed'by said cap, and an elastic band about said bristles intermediate their ends adapted to exert pressure upon I 60 said nib through said bristles' when the nib is Y projected therein. p p

5. In a fountain pen cap, the combination of a receptacle member reciprocatively mounted in the end of said cap, pen-wipin means carried by said receptacle member, an no 

